Toy

ABSTRACT

A self-propelled toy. Capable of climbing at least some kinds of walls. Suction cups are provided on leg-like appendages which are movable relative to a frame or body member.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] This invention relates to an entertainment device. Moreparticularly, this invention relates to a toy.

[0002] An essential element of products in the entertainment industry,whether those products are toys, games, films, art, music, televisionshows, or radio programs, is the ability to elicit the emotion orsensation of surprise. Naturally, there is a continuing need fornovelty. In the toy field, those toys which can be used in new andexciting ways become successful and even lasting.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION

[0003] An object of the present invention is to provide a new toy.

[0004] Another object of the present invention is to provide such a toywhich can serve as a continuing source of entertainment and enjoyment.

[0005] A further object of the present invention is to provide such atoy which naturally engages the attention of even an adult.

[0006] These and other objects of the invention will be apparent fromthe drawings and descriptions hereof. It is to be noted that each objectof the invention is realizable in at least one embodiment of theinvention. However, no one embodiment of the invention need meet everyobjective of the invention.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0007] The present invention is directed to a toy, preferably aself-propelled toy, which climbs at least some kinds of walls. In someversions, the toy can also move along and cling to ceilings.

[0008] In one embodiment of the present invention, the toy includes abody and a plurality of releasable attachment elements mounted to thebody for forming severable connections to a surface. In addition, apower source mounted to the body, while a mechanical power transmissiontrain mounted at least indirectly to the body is operatively connectedto the power source on one side and the attachment elements on anotherside so as to selectively move the attachment elements relative to thesurface. Thus, while one or more attachment elements are attached to thesurface, one or more of the other attachment elements are moved relativeto the surface. Then those moving attachment elements are secured to thesurface. The first attached elements may then be released and shiftedrelative to the surface.

[0009] The releasable coupling of the attachment elements to a wall orceiling surface may be effectuated by means of suction or sticky ortacky surfaces. Another medium for forming releasable connections to awall surface may be electromagnets. Of course, this solution iseffective only where the wall is made of metal, such as in arefrigerator door. A combination of attachment mechanisms may beutilized to maximize the wall-climbing effectiveness of the toy overdifferent wall surfaces. Thus, an attachment element may include asuction cup provided with an adhesive surface along a rim of the cup oron a portion of a concave surface of the suction cup.

[0010] It is possible to provide a specialized climbing surface for thetoy. Such a specialized surface may take the form of a metal sheet, inwhich case the attachment elements are electromagnetic. Alternative, thespecial surface may be made of a puncturable material such as corkboard.In that case, the releasable attachment elements of the toy may take theform of pins. The special surface may be tacky surface. The attachmentelements are then selected to form releasable adhesive couplings to thespecial surface.

[0011] The toy may include mechanical actuators for operating theattachment elements, i.e., for making and breaking, or assisting in themaking and breaking, of connections between the attachment elements andthe surface along which the toy crawls. Accordingly, where theattachment elements are suction cups, the toy may include a pneumaticsystem for increasing or enhancing a vacuum inside the suction cups,that is, between inner concave surfaces of the suction cups and thetravel surface. The mechanical attachment actuators of the pneumaticsystem may also serve to release the vacuum holds of attached suctioncups, for instance, by injecting air into the suction cups. Thepneumatic system includes well-known components such as a pump, valves,and fluid transfer lines.

[0012] In at least one embodiment of the invention, the releasableattachment elements are mounted to movable appendages of the toy. Themechanical power transmission train includes a motive member operativeconnected to the appendages for moving them to propel the toy over thetravel surface. The motive member may include gearing, hydraulics,pneumatics, and/or electromagnetics.

[0013] A remote controller may be provided for enabling a user toremotely operate the toy. The remote controller is operativelyconnected, for instance, by a cable or a wireless link (radio waves,infrared energy, or ultrasonic signals) to at least one of the powertransmission train and the power source.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

[0014]FIG. 1 is a schematic side perspective view of a toy in accordancewith the present invention.

[0015]FIG. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a room, showing thetoy of FIG. 1 at three different positions along a floor, a wall and aceiling of the room.

[0016]FIG. 3 is partially a partial schematic side elevational view andpartially a block diagram of the toy of FIG. 1.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0017] As illustrated in FIG. 1, a wall-climbing toy 8 includes a frameor body member 10 to which are mounted a plurality of movable leg-likeappendages 12, 14, 16, 18. Frame or body member 10 may be provided witha decorative shell 20 of any entertaining or fanciful construction.Shell 20 is shown herein to take an insect form.

[0018] Each appendage 12, 14, 16, 18 includes three rotary joints 22,24, and 26, as well as elongate connector elements 28, 29, and 30.Releasable attachment elements 32 in the form of flexible suction cups32 are provided at the free ends of connector elements 30 for formingseverable connections to a travel surface such as a floor surface 34, awall surface 36, or possibly even a ceiling surface 38 (FIG. 2).

[0019] As illustrated in FIG. 3, a power source 40 such as a battery ismounted to frame or body member 10, while a mechanical powertransmission train 42 mounted at least indirectly to the body isoperatively connected to the power source on one side and suction cups32 on another side so as to selectively move the suction cups relativeto a travel surface 34, 36, or 38. More particularly, power transmissiontrain 42 includes a first plurality of rotary drives 44 operativelylinked to rotary joints 22 for rotating elongate connector elements 28relative to frame or body 10 and further includes a second plurality ofrotary drives 46 operatively linked to rotary joints 24 for rotatingelongate connector elements 29 relative to connector elements 28 andtherefore relative to frame or body 10. Rotary joints 26 may be freelyswiveling joints or, optionally, may be provided with respective rotarydrives (not shown). Rotary drives 44 and 46 may be of any conceivabletype including electromagnetic, pneumatic, mechanical (gears, racks andpinions, etc.), or hydraulic. Concomitantly, power transmission train 42may take any form.

[0020] A motion controller 48 is operatively linked to powertransmission train 42, for instance via a switching circuit 50, forcoordinating the actuation of rotary drives 44, 46 to induce step-wisemovement of toy 8 along travel surface 34, 36, or 38 (FIG. 2). In thisstep-wise movement, while one or more suction cups 32 are attached totravel surface 34, 36, or 38, one or more of the other suction cups 32are moved relative to the surface. Then those moving suction cups aresecured to the travel surface 34, 36, or 38. The first suction cups 32may then be released and shifted relative to the travel surface.

[0021] As further illustrated in FIG. 3, frame or body member 10 carriesa coupling activation mechanism 52 operatively connected to suction cups32 for operating those attachment elements to make and break connectionsto a travel surface 34, 36, or 38. Coupling activation mechanism 52includes a pump 54, a set of valves 56, and a plurality of pneumaticlines 58 extending through or along appendages 12, 14, 16, 18 to therespective suction cups 32. Motion controller 48 is operatively tied tovalves 56 for synchronizing vacuum generation and release operationswith the motions of appendages 12, 14, 16, 18.

[0022] As additionally depicted in FIG. 3, a remote controller 60 may beprovided for enabling a user to remotely operate toy 8. Remotecontroller 60 is operatively connected, for instance, by a cable or awireless link 62 (radio waves, infrared energy, or ultrasonic signals)to power transmission train 42 and power source 40 via a signal receiver64 and motion controller 48.

[0023] The releasable coupling of attachment elements 32 to a wall orceiling surface may be effectuated by means other than suction. Forinstance, suction cups 32 may be replaced by tacky surfaces. An adhesivereservoir (not shown) may be provided on frame or body member 10, oreven separately, for periodically replenishing a layer of releasableadhesive on engagement surfaces of the attachment elements.

[0024] Alternatively, attachment elements or suction cups 32 may bereplaced or augmented by electromagnets (not shown) for formingreleasable connections to surface 34, 36, or 38 where that surface is ofa magnetic material. In another alternative configuration, movable pins(not shown) possibly with hooks or barbs may be provided for enablingtoy movement along a porous deformable surface such as a cork wallboard.

[0025] A combination of attachment mechanisms may be utilized tomaximize the wall-climbing effectiveness of the toy over different wallsurfaces. Thus, an attachment element may include a suction cup providedwith an adhesive surface along a rim of the cup or on a portion of aconcave surface of the suction cup.

[0026] Although the invention has been described in terms of particularembodiments and applications, one of ordinary skill in the art, in lightof this teaching, can generate additional embodiments and modificationswithout departing from the spirit of or exceeding the scope of theclaimed invention. It is easily appreciated that the plurality ofreleasable attachment elements may be provided on motive members otherthan leg-like appendages. For instance, endless tracks may be used wherethe tracks are provided along outer surfaces with a plurality ofreleasable gripper members. Each revolving track is provided withcontrol mechanisms which ensures that grippers in contact with a travelsurface are actuated while grippers out of contact with that surface aredeactuated. Where the gripper members are suction or vacuum cups, thecontrol mechanisms include valving which operates in accordance with thepositions of the endless tracks.

[0027] Accordingly, it is to be understood that the drawings anddescriptions herein are proffered by way of example to facilitatecomprehension of the invention and should not be construed to limit thescope thereof.

What is claimed is:
 1. A toy which climbs walls.
 2. The toy defined inclaim 1, further comprising: a body; a plurality of appendages extendingfrom said body, said appendages being movable relative to one anotherand relative to said body; a plurality of suction cups each provided ata free end of one of said appendages, opposite said body; and mechanicalactuators disposed at least partially in said body and operativelylinked to said appendages for moving said appendages.
 3. The toy definedin claim 2, further comprising a pump mounted to said body, said pumpbeing operatively connected to said suction cups for modifying pressurelevels on concave sides of said suction cups.
 4. The toy defined inclaim 1, further comprising: a body; a plurality of releasableattachment elements mounted to said body for forming severableconnections to a surface; a power source mounted to said body; and amechanical power transmission train mounted at least indirectly to saidbody and operatively connected to said power source on one side and saidattachment elements on another side so as to selectively move saidattachment elements relative to said surface.
 5. The toy defined inclaim 4 wherein said attachment elements are suction cups, furthercomprising a vacuum modification componentry mounted to said body andoperatively connected to said suction cups for changing pressure levelson concave sides of said suction cups.
 6. The toy defined in claim 5wherein said vacuum modification componentry includes a pump.
 7. The toydefined in claim 6 wherein said pump is connected to said suction cupsfor removing air from spaces on said concave sides of said suction cups.8. The toy defined in claim 7 wherein said pump is connected to saidsuction cups for injecting air into said spaces on said concave sides ofsaid suction cups.
 9. The toy defined in claim 5, further comprising aplurality of appendages movably linked to said body and carryingrespective ones of said suction cups, said mechanical power transmissiontrain including motive means for moving said appendages.
 10. The toydefined in claim 9 wherein said motive means includes componentry takenfrom the group consisting of gearing, hydraulics, pneumatics, andmagnetics.
 11. The toy defined in claim 4 wherein said attachmentelements include adhesive or tacky surfaces.
 12. The toy defined inclaim 4, further comprising a remote controller operatively connected toat least one of said power transmission train and said power source forenabling a user to remotely operate the toy.